2020 NFL Draft guide, part 1: Chiefs needs and player matches
By Thomas Welte
Points of Contract
2021
Expiring Contracts of Note: Daniel Sorensen, Damien Wilson, Dustin Colquitt, Mike Pennel, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Demarcus Robinson, Anthony Sherman, Charvarius Ward (RFA)
Extension Candidates: Chris Jones, Patrick Mahomes, Ward, Mitchell Schwartz, Eric Fisher, Tyrann Mathieu
Cut Candidates: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif ($8m), Alex Okafor ($7m)
Summary: The three-year period that the Chiefs are about to enter will be difficult to navigate as several big names are all set to have their contracts run out. Thankfully, the Chiefs will have substantially more cap space in 2021 and 2022 than they do currently.
Current projections have the Chiefs sitting at around $68 million in 2021, but that can jump to $81M with the two suggested cuts. The Chiefs face the potential departure of both offensive tackles and their defensive leader in Tyrann Mathieu in 2022. This is, of course, after they’ve squeezed contracts out for Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones.
2022
Expiring Contracts of Note: Tyrann Mathieu, Travis Kelce, Mitchell Schwartz, Eric Fisher, Alex Okafor, Derrick Nnadi, Breeland Speaks
Extension Candidates: Mathieu, Kelce, Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill
Cut Candidates: Anthony Hitchens ($9m), LDT ($9m)
Summary: This is about as far as you can look ahead for the current Chiefs roster. Currently, the Chiefs have 11 players with a contract for 2022 on the roster. Adding Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones brings that total to 13 players.
The Chiefs will work hard to retain key players like Kelce, Schwartz, Fisher, and Mathieu but all but one of those players (Mathieu) will be over 30. With so few commitments, the Chiefs are projected to have $147 million in cap space, which could jump to $156 million with the suggested cut of Anthony Hitchens.
Factoring the hypothetical Mahomes and Jones contracts, the Chiefs should have around $100 million to retain and sign players in 2022. They may also be trying to secure two stand-out 2020 rookies in Hardman and Thornhill.